Suspension means for internal combustion engines



May 4,1937. Hi MQRRIS r AL I 2,079,358

SUSPENSION MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Original -Filed Oct. 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNVE/W'OIFS Harald L. Norrzs y 1937- H. L. MORRIS ET AL 2,079,358

SUSPENSION MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Original Filed Oct. 21 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented May 4, 1937 STATES are SUSPENSION MEANS FOR, INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Original application October 21, 1933, Serial No. 694,552. Divided and this application October 3, 1934, Serial No. 746,708

4 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the horizontal type and has particular reference to suspension means for engines, this application being a division of co-pending application, Serial No. 694,552, filed October 21, 1933 for Internal combustion engine.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved mounting for internal combustion engines.

Another object of this invention is the provision of new and improved means for suspending an internal combustion engine beneath a vehicle.

This invention also contemplates the provision of more or less resilient means for supporting an internal combustion engine for a vehicle.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a three-point mounting for engines so formed and arranged as to suspend the engine beneath the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of this invention Will be apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a horizontal engine showing the suspension means therefor;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the engine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the draw ings in which similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the several views, the engine shown is of the horizontal type and comprises a crank case 2 and a cylinder head 4. These parts are shown more or less diagrammatically and in addition an intake manifold indicated generally at 6 is shown. The engine also, of course, includes a crank shaft indicated diagrammatically at 8.

One of the advantages of horizontal engines is that the height thereof is substantially that of the crank case and the size of the crank case need not be substantially greater than that required to permit satisfactory operation of the crank shaft. This type of engine is therefore well adapted for mounting under the floor of vehicles and in other places where the vertical space available governs the height of the engine to be used. When engines of this type are employed for propelling vehicles such as buses or the like they are preferably disposed beneath the floor. They may be located intermediate the ends of the bus body or in any other suitable or desired position. In the instance shown in the drawings the engine is supported by transverse members ll) of the bus or vehicle body underframe. These cross members ID are shown in Fig. 2 as being substantially of I-beam shape though obviously they may be of any other well known structural design.

The crank shaft 8 is rotatably mounted in bearings and one end portion thereof carries a fly wheel (not shown) which is arranged within a fly wheel housing l2 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the crank case 2.

As clearly shown in the drawings, opposite end portions of the fly wheel housing l2 are provided with attaching elements indicated generally at A simulating a spool in cross section and having circular flanges i4 projecting from the upper and lower end portions thereof (see Fig. 3) so as to provide pockets in opposite ends of said attaching elements A. The fly wheel housing is arranged at what may be termed the rear end por tion of the engine. Formed on the opposite or forward end of the engine and adjacent the upper edge thereof are spaced supporting lugs IS in the form of relatively flat plates as shown clearly in Fig. 1. For reinforcing the lugs l6, webs l8 extend from the crank case to said lugs as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Secured to the cross member ill at the rear por-' tion of the engine by suitable fasteners 20, and projecting from said member H], are spaced hangers H each having a Web 22 formed in such a manner as to provide a bearing 24 at its lower portion, the bearing being substantially circular in shape and having an internally arranged concentric sleeve 26 projecting upwardly from the base 28 of said bearing. The upper end of said sleeve 3 26 serves to support a bolt 30 which extends through the attaching element A, the latter being tubular as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The bearing 24 extends into the upper pocket formed by the annular flange l4 and arranged in said pocket is a pad 32 of resilient material. The bolt 30 extends beyond the lower end of the element A and has its lower end portion reduced in diameter as shown at 34 and threaded to receive a nut 36 which supports a washer 38 adapted to bear against a resilient pad 40 arranged in the pocket defined by the lower annular flange M. It can be readily seen that by adjustment of the nut 36 on the threaded end of bolt 30 the attaching element A is secured though resiliently connected and supported from the hanger H.

In suspending the forward end portion of the engine a bracket 42 is secured to the adjacent cross beam ill by suitable fasteners M, said bracket projecting from said cross member ill in a position such that it is arranged intermediate the lugs Hi. The projected end portion of the bracket 42 is formed to provide a trunnion 46.

Extending between the lugs 16 and connected thereto by suitable fasteners such as thebolts 48 is a supporting casting 50 having, intermediate itsends, a substantially semi-cylindrical bearing surface 52 which fits against the lower portion of the trunnion 46 as shown clearly in Fig. 5. For connecting the casting 59 to the trunnion 46 a head portion 54 is provided which is formed to fit the upper portion of the trunnion and is connected to the bearing portion 52 of the casting 50 by suitable fasteners such as the bolts 56. At the end portions of the casting E3, suitable wearing material 58 is provided for obtaining a secure but resilient support of the forward end portion of the engine. The bearing member 56 is suitably reinforced and stiffened by means of a flange 60 which depends from the forward portion thereof adjacent the cross beam H] as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

From the above description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a means for supporting a horizontal engine at three distinct zones or points, two at the rear end portion of the engine and the other at the forward end portion of the engine but intermediate the zones of support of the rear portion of the engine. It will also be apparent that, due to the specific mounting of the engine as shown and described, the engine is permitted a certain amount of oscillation about the trunnion 46 should occasion demand.

The drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention but it is to be understood that they are for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and proportions of the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a vehicle frame including cross frame members, a horizontal engine extending longitudinally between said frame members and including a crank shaft, means for suspending one end of said engine from one frame member including a trunnion support located parallel to the axis of said crank shaft and above the same, resilient means for limiting the relative oscillatory movement of said motor and trunnion, and means for suspending the opposite end of said motor from the other frame member including rigid spaced extensions on said motor formed with vertical openings and having upper bearing faces, and downwardly extending spaced hangers having lower bearing faces, and formed with openings registering with the openings of said rigid extensions, resilient cushions between the bearing faces, and fastening means extending through the registering openings and engaging the lower faces of said rigid extensions.

2.- A supporting structure for suspending a horizontal motor from a frame including a horizontal trunnion at one end of the motor, means for limiting the oscillatory movement of the trunnion supported end of the motor, means for supporting the opposite end of the motor comprising resilient vertically disposed pivot assemblies including pintles arranged on each side of the trunnion axis and extending below the latter, and hangers fixed to the frame and engaging the upper extremity of the pintles.

3. In combination with a horizontal motor and a frame, a central upper horizontal trunnion support for suspending one end of said motor to an element of said frame in balanced position, and means for hanging the other end of said motor from the frame including spaced rigid extensions at each side of the motor body formed with vertical openings, brackets fixed to and projecting downwardly from the frame and having openings in alignment with the openings in said engine projections, resilient means between the brackets and the projections, and means for clamping the projections and brackets including pins extending through the registering openings.

4. In an assembly for suspending a horizontal engine comprising, in combination, a trunnion support for the front end of said engine spaced above the crank shaft, resilient means on which said support is mounted 50- arranged as to permit limited oscillatory movement of said engine and trunnion support, and a pair of spaced hangers for the opposite end of said engine, each of said spaced hangers having portions fixed to the engine including a rigid tubular body portion formed with upper and lower annular pockets and resilient members in saidpockets, supporting brackets fixed to a frame having downwardly extending projections for engaging one of said resilient members, and bolts extending through the bracket projections and tubular body portions to secure the parts together.

HAROLD L. MORRIS. FREDERICK E. DAYES. 

